Joe KentThe Oregon native and director of the National Counterterrorism Center announced his resignation Tuesday morning amid the ongoing U.S.-Iraq war.
Kent said in a social media post that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to resign as director of the National Bureau of Statistics. Counter-terrorism Centre, effective today,” he said.
“I cannot in good conscience support Iran’s ongoing war. Iran poses no imminent threat to our country and it is clear that we are waging this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent added.
The ongoing conflict in the region comes weeks after the United States launched a series of strikes against Iran that resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route for oil and various other commodities.
Who is Joe Kent?
Kent, an Oregon native, graduated from Norwich University with a degree in strategic defense analysis. He dedicated 20 years to the U.S. Army, during which time he served 11 combat deployments in the Middle East and other high-risk areas. Throughout his military career, he was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command and received numerous military honors, including six Bronze Star Medals. After retiring from the Army in 2018, he served as a paramilitary officer in the CIA’s Special Activities Center.
Kent has twice attempted to win a congressional seat in Washington state’s 3rd District, which includes Clark County. He was defeated both times by Mary Grusenkamp Perez. He was appointed to his current position by President Donald Trump in early 2025.
Kent and his family are dedicated to counterterrorism efforts and keeping the American people safe.
Joe Kent’s family: It’s all thanks to his wife, Shannon M. Kent
Kent’s husband, Shannon M Kent, died in the 2019 bombing in Manbij, Syria.
Shannon was born in New York in 1983 and joined the Navy in 2003. Fluent in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Arabic, she had a burgeoning career as a cryptologist at Fort Meade, Maryland. In 2006, midway through her career, Shannon was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was successfully treated with surgery.
In 2008, she was deployed to Afghanistan to assist the Navy SEALs.
Shannon met Kent during an Intelligence Support Activity selection course and the two married in 2014.
Shannon deployed to Syria in November 2018 as the Navy’s chief cryptographic technician. She was one of four Americans killed in a suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria, on January 19, 2019.
All four soldiers were killed in the attack, along with 15 local Syrian Democratic Forces fighters.
Last year, Kent paid tribute to Shannon in an Instagram post, writing: “6 years ago. Shannon Marie Kent set sail in Manbij, Syria, on January 16, 2019, on her fifth Special Operations deployment.”
“I am grateful for every moment we have and the life we have created. Shannon is an amazing wife, mother, friend, sister and daughter. Shannon is timeless,” he added.
Children of Joe and Shannon M. Kent
At the time of her death, Joe and Shannon’s two sons were 3 years old and 18 months old.
In 2023, Joe Kent entered into a new marriage with Heather Kaiser. Shannon Kent was posthumously promoted to Senior Master Sergeant and received various honors including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.
